Bengal, other poll-bound states see Covid cases zoom

Story by  ATV | Posted by  [email protected] • 2 Years ago
Bengal, Tamil Nadu, other poll-bound states see Covid cases zoom
Bengal, Tamil Nadu, other poll-bound states see Covid cases zoom

 

New Delhi

West Bengal, which is midway through its poll process, as well as Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, where voting has concluded, witnessed a massive surge in Covid cases since the Assembly elections were announced by the Election Commission on February 26.

Kerala, however, saw a small dip.

On February 26, India had recorded 16,562 cases of Covid with 114 fatalities, while on April 6, the tally had risen almost six-fold to 96,982 cases and the toll nearly four-fold to 446.

Soon after the announcement of polls in four states and the Union Territory, all the political parties kickstarted their election campaign - and the effect was soon visible.

All candidates carried out massive campaigning in their areas. The candidates and senior political leaders have held road shows, public meetings, processions to reach to the voters, with Covid norms of face masks and social distancing generally given the go-by.

According to Covid19India.org data, West Bengal, which recorded 216 cases on February 26, saw cases go up almost 10 times to 2,058 cases on April 6, the day of the third phase of its eight-round poll.

Even the number of fatalities in the state went up from three on February 26 to 30 on April 6.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu too was not left out of the phenomenon as it witnessed almost nine time spike in the number of fresh cases.

The state had recorded 481 cases on February 26, while on the day of voting on April 6, it recorded 3,645 cases. Even the rate of fatalities due to Covid witnessed a three-time spike from five on February 26 to 15 on April 6.

While Congress candidate from Srivilliputhur constituency, P.S.W. Madhava Rao, died of the disease, BJP's K. Annamalai, Congress state President K.S. Alagiri, and senior DMK leaders Kanimozhi and Duraimurugan were infected.

Kerala, which was recording over 3,000 cases in February, however witnessed a small dip in the number of cases on April 6.

The state has recorded 3,671 cases on February 26 but on April 6, it recorded 3,502. The number of fatalities remained the same (14) for both the dates.

Prominent people infected include Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Even Assam witnessed a massive surge in the number of Covid cases from February 26 to April 6. The state, which voted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and 6, had recorded 34 cases on February 26, but saw the tally rise to 92 cases on April 6.

The effect of election was visible in Puducherry too, as it witnessed almost 12 times spike. The Union Territory had recorded 20 cases of Covid on February 26 while on April 6, it recorded 237 fresh cases.

Blame the selfie culture for us getting infected: MK Alagiri

Chennai

The death of Congress candidate from Srivilliputhur constituency in Tamil Nadu P.S.W. Madhava Rao and BJP leader from Aruvarakurshi constituency, K. Annamalai testing positive for Covid triggered a debate about political leaders getting infected while on the campaign trail in the middle of the raging pandemic.

Most of the leaders got infected with the virus following their public interaction without taking much precaution.

K.S. Alagiri, Tamil Nadu state president of the Congress who was infected with the virus, said, "Political leaders cannot do anything, our party workers and functionaries flock towards us and we cannot keep them at a distance citing Covid protocols. But the main culprit, I feel, is the selfie culture as people tend to click selfies with us and request us to remove the masks. This is dangerous."

Alagiri was one of the several senior leaders who were infected with Covid 19 including DMK leaders Kanimozhi and Duraimurugan.

Duraimurgan who is the general secretary of the DMK and the party's candidate from Katpadi assembly constituency, said, "Political leaders have to interact with the public and beyond a point we may not be able to maintain all the protocols. We are amidst the people and are working for them. Political leaders don't have a life beyond the public and sometimes we have to face this and I got infected with Covid during the electioneering."

During the election time, political party leaders attended several public meetings and had to interact with the madding crowd as well as participate in closed door meetings with party leaders, functionaries and cadres. The system of Covid protocol was given a go by almost all the political leaders as barriers cannot be kept, especially during election time.

Mahesh Krishnamoorthy, social activist and leader of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, said, "Political leaders are exposed during the election time and even otherwise as they have to be part and parcel of the public. People always surround a political leader and they inadvertently become prey to such deadly diseases as the safety norms are not taken care of, especially during election time."